Off-contract Gold Coast forward David Fifita's schoolboy connection with his close friend and halfback Tanah Boyd could be one key factor that keeps him at the club.
The 22-year-old wrecking ball has a big decision to make about his future. The Titans are confident they can keep him but are aware Canberra are right in the mix, amongst other clubs.
Fifita, who will play against the Dolphins on Sunday night, said he was "fully committed" to Gold Coast.
David Fifita's schoolboy link a contract key for Titans
Why David Fifita must leave ‘soft’ Queensland
The easy option for David Fifita would be to stay on the Gold Coast. Take a pay cut, sign a fresh deal and remain close to the comforts of home.
The thing is, the last thing Fifita needs to take right now is the soft option. Fifita needs to challenge himself, get out of his comfort zone and test his limits.
That’s why, when Fifita sits down with his management team next week to make a call on his future, he should choose Canberra over the glitter strip.
He should choose difficult over easy. Fifita needs to be pushed to his limits and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is the man to do it.
Raiders halfback forced into last minute changes
Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty has been forced back to "square one," following the injury of fullback Xavier Savage in the pre-season challenge.
Savage broke his jaw in Sunday's pre-season challenge against the Bulldogs and has been ruled out of the Raiders' Round 1 encounter with the Cowboys.
The injury will bring winger Jordan Rapana into the number-one jersey for this week's trial against the West Tigers, a position he has only played 14 games in at a top-grade level.
"It's not ideal going through the whole pre-season with Xav - myself and Xav have worked really hard since I've come back to pre-season to get that combination going and just to get a steady start to the season," Fogarty told AAP.
